| A glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (called HbA1c, Hemoglobin
A1c, A1 and A1c) reading reveals your average blood glucose level
over the past three months and can be used to predict your risk
for diabetes complications.
How does it do that? Your body actually memorizes the trail that
sugar leaves in your body. When blood glucose is high, the sugar
molecules attach themselves to red blood cells. The red blood cells
store the sugar information for about 3 months. A blood test can
then retrieve your average blood glucose results in the format of
a percentage. The greater your A1c value, the higher your risk for
diabetes complications.
Research studies in the United States and abroad have found that
improved glycemic control benefits people with either type 1 or
type 2 diabetes. In general, for every 1% reduction in results of
A1c blood tests (e.g., from 8.0% to 7.0%), the risk of developing
microvascular diabetic complications (eye, kidney, and nerve disease)
is reduced by 40%.¹
Does an A1c take the place of daily blood glucose testing? No,
knowing where your blood glucose is every day is still the easiest
and most practical way to see how food, exercise and daily living
are impacting your diabetes. Keep in mind that A1c is an average
of all glucose levels over several months, which means that someone
with relatively consistent blood sugar levels could have the same
A1c as someone with a lot of highs and lows. But by comparing your
daily blood glucose test results to A1c, you and your doctor can
determine how well your diabetes is being controlled - and establish
ways to control it even further.
Compare daily results to quarterly A1c test.
- The American Diabetes Association recommends an A1c of 7% or
lower.
- The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommends
an A1c of 6.5% or lower.
- Your doctor can set a target A1c level for you that can be
achieved by acting on the information you get from regular, daily
blood glucose testing.
- The lower your daily blood glucose test results, the better
your A1c result-which means you're taking charge of your diabetes
through proper diet, exercise and medication
|
Comparing Blood Glucose With A1c
|
|
Average Glucose in Mg/dL
|
A1c,%
|
|
Average Glucose in Mmol/L
|
A1c,%
|
|
Plasma*
|
Whole Blood**
|
|
|
Plasma*
|
Whole Blood**
|
|
|
65
|
58
|
4
|
|
3.5
|
3.1
|
4
|
|
100
|
89
|
5
|
|
5.5
|
4.9
|
5
|
|
135
|
121
|
6
|
|
7.5
|
6.7
|
6
|
|
170
|
152
|
7
|
|
9.5
|
8.5
|
7
|
|
205
|
183
|
8
|
|
11.5
|
10.3
|
8
|
|
240
|
214
|
9
|
|
13.5
|
12.1
|
9
|
|
275
|
246
|
10
|
|
15.5
|
13.8
|
10
|
|
310
|
277
|
11
|
|
17.5
|
15.6
|
11
|
|
345
|
308
|
12
|
|
19.5
|
17.4
|
12
|
|
 |
|
